Looking at “Ezra” and “Camellia” from a different perspective, it was a tragic melodrama.
The role of “Brigitta” was exceptionally challenging. If Elisa’s acting wasn’t up to par, she would be criticized by Sebastian and Filippa.
After all, she didn’t have the same tacit understanding as the sibling pair, and the character she received was that of a villainous troublemaker, not likely to be favored by the audience. It was the first time Elisa had felt a headache since her rebirth. She absolutely couldn’t afford to lose the first performance!
That evening, Asher called to inquire about the script she had received. “The Weekend Show has already begun recording. I asked, but he wouldn’t tell me about your situation. Tell me, what script did you receive? I’ll give you some advice.”
Elisa had never considered hiding anything from Asher, so when he asked, she openly shared, “The script is for ‘Age.'”
“That’s a good script. Which character did you get? Camellia?” Asher had never expected that the cast assignments not only involved one-on-one, but also one-on-two and two-on-two arrangements.
Asher had initially thought it was a romantic lead, and if Elisa had received the role of “Camellia,” she would surely shine, as she naturally exuded a “ladylike” aura. What’s more, the character of Camellia was very endearing; when the movie was released, this character had attracted many fans.
“It’s not Camellia, it’s Brigitta.”
“…” Asher fell silent, and after a while, he asked, “Who are you performing with on stage?”
“Sebastian and Filippa.”
“…” Elisa waited quietly for a moment. After half a minute passed with no response from her phone, she couldn’t help but suspect if Asher’s signal was weak. “Mr. Kentala, are you still there?”
There was a sigh from the other end. “I suspect someone is deliberately setting you up. Sebastian is the male lead in ‘Age,’ and his acting, I don’t need to mention. He won numerous awards solely based on that movie. Additionally, you know about Filippa… I won’t go into detail about her. If you were only acting with Filippa, your chances of winning would be high. But unfortunately, you are up against both her and Sebastian. These two are actors trained by the same Teacher White, and there have been rumors about them. Their relationship is quite extraordinary. I’m afraid that these two will collaborate to target you.”
Elisa replied, “I understand.”
“Don’t you have anything else to say?”
“One can only do one’s best within one’s capacity,” Elisa responded. “The stage hasn’t been set; how can one be anxious beforehand?”
Asher also thought to himself: Instead of discussing all sorts of uncertainties, it’s better to encourage Elisa more. Even if she does lose, it shouldn’t be too embarrassing. “Rest assured, even if you lose in the first round, I won’t replace you.”
Six days remained until the performance. Elisa first watched the movie “Age,” then gradually familiarized herself with the character “Brigitta” based on her own understanding of the film’s plot.
Brigitta’s life obsession was nothing more than the word “love.” She longed to be loved, and Ezra provided her with warmth, which drove her to desperately hold onto him.
Elisa understood this feeling better than anyone else; the ultimate love in one’s life is often encountered but cannot be pursued.
Elisa suddenly recalled a short poem:
-Here, desolation, not a blade of grass grows.
-Then you came and walked through.
-Miraculously, everything flourished.
-This is my heart.
And this passage could be read in reverse:
-This is my heart, miraculously, everything flourished.
-Then you came and walked through.
-Here, desolation, not a blade of grass grows.
For Brigitta, Ezra was the one who could bring her light and warmth, but at the same time, he also brought her endless darkness.
If no one had given her warmth, she could have lived in the darkness.
…
At the age of babbling, Brigitta was sold to the kiln by her family. Being beaten was an everyday occurrence, and aside from her face, there wasn’t a day her body wasn’t marked with injuries.
Growing up in a dark environment, the innocent and lively little girl eventually became twisted and paranoid. She gave all her feigned kindness to Ezra alone, and after seeing her beloved die in her arms, she lived a life in “Age” that was worse than death.
…
After understanding the script, she took the initiative to contact Sebastian to rehearse together.
Initially, she had expected him to refuse, but to her surprise, he agreed outright. The next morning, the three of them arrived at the rehearsal room.
Filippa held the script and sporadically engaged Elisa in dialogue, occasionally inserting remarks about the interactions between Sebastian and Elisa.
Sebastian consistently sided with Filippa, creating a disadvantageous situation for Elisa. In the script, Brigitta deeply loved Ezra, but Elisa couldn’t muster any interest while looking at Sebastian’s face.
After hurriedly running through the lines, Elisa hadn’t found her rhythm before it was already over.
“Alright, the rehearsal is done. Let’s go, senior brother,” Filippa said, reaching out to link arms with Sebastian and attempting to pull him away.
Sebastian said, “Miss Powell, I have work to attend to, so I’ll leave first. If you have any questions, you can ask me in the group. Also, I suggest you seek the guidance of a professional acting coach for your lines…”